Starter



Nov. 15, 1932. w. c. STARKEY STARTER Filed May 9, 1927 uorum,

Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM CABLETON STARKEY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO L. G. S. DEVICES CORPORATION, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA STARTER Application filed May 9, 1027. Serial a... 190,030.

It is the object of my invention to produce a starter drive particularly adaptable for low cost, and will be effective in operation,

I accomplish the above object by mounting on the shaft of the starter motor a slidable pinion gear which meshes with a gear rotatable with the engine crank shaft, both gears being preferably helical, and I connect the pinion to the starter motor shaftthrough an overrunning clutch which is slidable as a unit with the pinion alongthe starter motor shaft to carry such pinion into and out of engagement with its associated gear. I provide means operated jointly with the starter motor switch for moving the pinion into engagement with its associated gear, andin this pinion moving mechanism I incorporate a latch which will permitdisengagement of the pinion and gearing even though the starter-motor switch is closed. p

The. accompanying drawing illustrates my & invention: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of my device showing the parts in the positions which they occupy when the starter motor is not in operation; Fig. 2 is a fragmental longitudinal section similar to Fig. 1 but with 33 the parts in the positions theoccupy when the starter motor is rotatingt e engine; and

Fig. 3 is a fragm'ental longitudinal section through a device embodying a modification of my invention.

Rotatable with the. engine crank shaft and preferably secured'to the fly wheel 10 of the engine is a helical gear-11. Astarter motor (not shown) is mounted beside. the engine with its shaft 12 parallel'to the axis of rota- 419 tion of the gear 11 and with the rear end of such shaft projecting past the plane of the gear. My invention is not concerned with details of the starter motor or its mounting. V The starter motor is supplied with current' from a battery 14 through an electrical conductor 15 in which is incorporated a" suitable switch 16. The' switch 16 may be ofv any desired type, the one shown comprisingtwo contacts 17 and 18 which are insulated from each other and which are adapted to be connected bya brush 19. The brush 19 is vertically movable with a button 20 adapted to be moved downward by'the foot of the operator to bring the brush into engagement with the contacts 17 and 18. My invention is not concerned with the details of this switch construction. I

Slidably mounted on the rear end of the shaft 12 but rotatable therewith is a cup shaped clutchmember 22. To form a suitable mounting for this clutch member on the shaft 12, it is conveniently provided with a hole for receiving the end of the shaft 12, such hole having splines which co-operate with splines 23 on the end of the shaft. The 55 clutch member 22 is counterbored to receive a second clutch 'member 24 which is also cupshaped. The clutch member 22 extends forwardly beyond the bottom of the cup 24 and is there provided in its inner surface with an annular groove for the reception of a split: spring ring 25 which prevents axial separation of the two clutch members. Rigid with the clutch member 24-is a helical pinion 27 which moves into and out of engagement with the gear 11 as the clutch members 22 and 24 are moved axially along the shaft 12. Located within the clutch members 22 and 23 is a helical coil spring 28 which, in the arrangement shown, is of the same hand so as the helical pinion 27. This spring 28 has a normal external diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of the recesses in which it is received; so that when it is in place in such recesses, it presses outwardly against the walls thereof.

The clutch formed by the clutch members 22 and 24 is conveniently enclosed within a clutch casing 30 which is conveniently mounted on the end wall 3 1 of the cue which surrounds the starteninotor and its shaft 12 Slidably mounted in' the end wall of the casing 30 is a thrust member 32 the forward end of which bears against the rear face of the clutch member 22. If necessary, the front face of the thrust member 32 may be provided withan axial recess 33 for the purpose of providing clearance for the end of the shaft 12. p

The thrust member 32 is designed to be moved forwardly when the starter motor switch is closed, such forward movement bringing the pinion 27 partially into mesh with the gear 11. To acconipllsh th1s result, the thrust member 32 is connected to a longitudinally extending rod 35 which is connected through a compression spring 36 with onearm of a bell crank 37. The other arm of the bell crank 37 is engaged by a member 38 which is movable with the brush 19 of the starter-motor switch. A spring l0 acts between the rod 35 and any fixed point tending to force the rod rearwardly to hold the bell crank 37 in engagement with the member 38.

In the construction just described, pressure on the switch button 20 lowers the member 38, and causes the bell crank 37 to move the rod 35 forwardly. This movement of the rod 35 is transmitted through the thrust member 32 to the clutch member 22 which, with the other clutch member 24 and pinion 27 is moved forwardly far enough to bring the pinion 27 into partial engagement with the gear 11. Downward movement of the switch button 20, after engaging the pinion 27 with the gear 11, brings the brush 19 into engagement with the contacts 17 and 18 thus .closing the starter-motor circuit. The resultant rotation of the starter-motor shaft 12 is transmitted through the 'overrunning clutch to the pinion 27 and causes such pinion to tend to rotate the gear 11. The reaction of the teeth of the gear 11 on the inclined teeth of the pinion 27 causes the pinion to move still farther forward until it reaches complete engagement with the gear 11 when its forward face abuts against a suitable stop 42. Further rotation of the shaft 12 causes rotation of the gear 11 to start the engine. j

When the engine begins to run. under its own power, it tends to drive the pinion 27, and the reactions at the faces of the teeth of the gear 11 and pinion 27 are reversed tending to cause rearward movement of the pinion 27 thus carrying the pinion axially out of engagement with the gear 11.

To permit such rearward movement of the pinion 27 even although the button 20 of the starter-motor switch is still depressed, the rod 35 is not directly connected to the thrust member 32. Instead, the thrust member 32 carries a pivotally mounted latch which is adapted to swing transversely into and out of engagement with the end of the rod 35. A coil spring 51 acting between the thrust member 32 and a lateral projection 52 on the latch 50 tends-to hold the latch in engagement with the end of the rod 35. Such engagement exists when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the startermotor is not in operation. When, however, the switch button 20 isdepressed sufiiciently to bring the brush 19 into engagement with the contacts 17 and 18, forward movement of the thrust member 32 brings the latch-extension 52 into engagement with an abutment,

conveniently the end of the housing 30, which serves to move the latch 50 out of engagement with the end of the rod 35. The position of the parts while the starter-motor is cranking" the engine and while the switch button 20 is still depressed is shown in Fig. 2. If, now, the engine begins to run under its own power, the reaction of the gears 11 and 27 tends to move the pinion 27 and clutch members 24 and 22 rearwardly to carry the pinion out of engagement with the gear 11. Since the latch 50 is out of engagement with the end of the rod 35, this movement is permitted even though the rod 35 is in its forward position. Subsequent release of the switch button 20 permits the rod 35 to move rearwardly under the action ofthe spring 40, and the latch 50 then returns to a position where it will be engaged by the-front end of therod 35.

I have found it advisable to provide some means for preventing accidental axial displacement of the overrunning clutch and pinion 27. To this end, I provide axially spaced peripheral grooves 55 in the outer face of the clutch member 22, and I provide aspring 56 the end of which is adapted to enter one or the other of the grooves 55"to hold the clutch and pinion either in engagement with the gear 11 or out of engagement with such gear.

In the construction as so far described,the teeth of the pinion 27 may meet those of the gear 11 in such a position as to prevent further forward movement of the pinion 27 until after it has been rotated slightly. When such engagement of the gear and pinion teeth occurs, the spring 36 is compressed and permits complete depression of the switch button 20 to close the starter-motor circuit. The resultant rotation of the starter-motor shaft 12 changes the relative positions of the teeth of the gear 11 and pinion 27, thus per-.

mitting the pinion 27 to move into meshing engagement with the gear. It sometimes happens, however, that the starter motor starts very suddenly with the result that the pinion teeth do not immediately drop into the spaces between the teeth of the gear 11. To avoid this, I may employ. the construction illustrated in Fig. 3, which is so arranged that meshing engagement of the pinion 27 and gear 11 will occur before the starter-motor circuit is closed.

As has been pointed out above, compression of the spring 36 only results when the teeth of the gear 11 and the pinion 27 meet in end-to-end engagement. To prevent the pinion and gear from remaining in this relative position, I provide means which op crates when the spring 36 is compressed and whlch produces partial rotation of the pinion 27 to permit'it to move forward into intermeshing .engagement with the gear 11.

The means I employ in accomplishingthis result is illustrated in Fig. 3.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3, the spring 36 operates between an abutment 60 carried by the rod and a second abutment 61 which is secured to the bell crank 37. Rigid with the abutment 61 I- provide a sleeve 62 having a helical slot. The rod 35 extends past the abutment 60 and into the sleeve 62 where it is provided with a cross-pin 63 received in the helical slot in the sleeve. The thrust member 32 is so mounted'on the forward end of the rod 35 that it will rotate with such rod although being capable of moving ax-.

ially therealong. This result is readily accomplished by making the forward end of the an annular series of ratchet teeth 64 so arranged that rotation of the thrust member 32 will be transmitted to the clutch member 22 and thence to the pinion 27.

In the absence of end-to-end engagement of the teeth of the pinion 27 with those'of the gear 11, this device operates'in the same manner as does that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. If, however, the teeth of the pinion 27 meet those of the ear 11 in such a manner .as to prevent furt er forward movement of the pinion 27, continued downward movement of the switch button 20 will result in the compression of the spring 36 and relative longitudinal movement of the sleeve 62 and the rod 35. Movement of thesleeve 62 relative to the rod 35, causes a rotation of such rod owing to the engagement of the pin 63 with the helical slot in the sleeve 62. This rotation of the rod 35 is transmitted through the thrust member 32 and clutch member 22 to the pinion 27, thus moving the teeth of such pinion out of end-to-end engagement with those of the gear and permitting the pinion to move forward into intermeshing enga ement with the gear. The helical slot, in the s eeve 62 has sufiicient length to insure that the pinion 27 will be rotated far enough to accomplish this result.

I claim as my invention i 1. An engine starting device, comprising a helical gear connected to the engine, a startermotor, a switch therefor, a starter-motordriven shaft, a helical pinion slidable on said shaft into and out of mesh with said gear, an overrunnin clutch connecting said shaft and pinion, a t rust member for moving said pinion axially into partial engagement with said gear, the teeth of said pinion and gear being inclined so thatthe reaction at their faces when the pinion is driving the gear will tend to move said pinion into complete engagement with said gear, and means operaxially out of mesh with said gear, said last mentioned means being carried by said thrust member.

3. An engine starting device, comprising a helical gear connected to the engine, a starter motor, a starter-motor driven helical pinion axially movable into and out of engagement with said gear, said pinion being driven from said starter motor through an overrunning clutch, means for moving said pinion axially into partial engagement with said gear, and means operative after said pinion and gear have been partially engaged for causing rotation of said starter motor and pinion, the teeth of said gear and pinion being inclined so that the reaction at their faces when the pinion is driving the gear will tend to move said pinion axially into complete engagement with said gear.

4. An en ine starting device as set forth in claim 3 wit the addition that said overrunning clutch is in fixed axial relation to said pinion.

5. An engine starting device, comprising a helical gear connected to the engine, a starter motor, a starter-motor driven helical pinion axially movable into and out of engagement with said gear, means for moving said pinion axially into partial engagement with said gear, said pinion-moving means including an operating member and a motion transmitting member for transmitting movement of said operating member to said pinion, a spring connecting said two members, means operative to rotate said pinionwhen said 'two members move relatively to each other to strain said spring, and means operative after said pinion and gear have beenv partially engaged for causing rotation of said starter motor and pinion, theteeth of said gear and pinion being inclined so that the reaction at their faces when the pinion is driving the gear will tend to move said pinion axially into complete'engagement with said gear and out of engagement with said motion transmitting member.

6. An engine starting device, comprising a helical gear connected to the engine, a starter motor, a starter-motor driven helical pin ion axially movable into and out of engagement with said gear, means for moving said pinion axially into partial engagement with said gear, said pinion-moving means includ ing two telescoping parts, a hellcal groove in one of said parts, a projection on the other of said parts for engaging said groove, a spring acting between said two parts, and tending to prevent relative movement between them, on of said parts being connected to said pinion to produce rotation thereof when said parts move relatlvely and strain said spring, and means operative after said pinion and gear have been part1ally engaged for causing rotation of sa1d starter motor and pinion, the teeth of said gear and pinion being inclined so that the reaction at their faces when the pinion is driving the gear will tend to move said PlDlOIl axially into complete engagement with sa1d gear and out of engagement with the telescoping part to which it is normally connected.

. 7. An engine starting device, comprising a gear connected to the engine, a startenmotor, a starter-motor driven pinion axially movable into and out of engagement withsaid gear, means for moving said pinion axially into engagementwith sa1d gear, sa d pmionmoving means including an operating member and a motion transmitting member releasably connecting said operating member to said pinion, a spring connecting sa1d two members, means operative to rotate said pinion when said two members move relatively to each other to strain said spring, means operative after said pinion and gear have been partially engaged for causing rotation of said starter motor and pinion, and means operative upon rotation of said starter motor and pinion for releasing the connection between said pinion and said operating member.

. 8. An engine starting device, comprising a helical gear connected to the engine, a starter motor, a starter-motor driven helical pinion axially movable into and .out of engagement with said gear, means for moving said pinion axially into partial engagement -with said gear, said pinion-moving means including an operating member and a motion transmitting member for transmitting movement of said operatin member to said pinion, a spring connecting said two members, means operative to rotate said pinion when said two members move relatively to each other to strain said spring,.said pinion mov- .ing means also including a releasable forcetransmitting connection which, after partial engagement of said gear and pinion is effected, is released to ermit axial movement 1 of said pinion out o engagement with said gear and also to permit free rotation'of said pinion. I

- 9. An engine starting device, comprising a gear connected to the engine, a starter mo tor, a starter-motor driven pinion axiall movable into and out of engagement wit said gear, means for moving said pinion ax- 5 ially into engagement with said gear, said pinion-moving means includin an operating member and a motion transmitting member for transmitting movement of said operating member to said pinion, a spring connecting said two members, means operatlve to rotate said pinlon when sa1d two members move relatively to each other to strain said spring, said pinion moving means also including a releasable force-transmitting connection which, after engagement of said gear and pinion is efi'ected, is released to permit axial movement of said pinion out of engagement with said gear and also to permit free rotation of said pinion.

10. In combination, a rotatable gear, a rotatable pinion movable axially into and out of engagement with said gear, and means for moving said pinion axially into engagement with said gear, said means including an operating member and a motion-transmitting member releasably connecting said operating member to said pinion, a spring connecting said two members, and means operative to rotate said pinion when said two members move relatively and strain saidspring, said pinion moving means including a tripable latch carried by the motion transmitting member. I

11. An engine starting device, comprising a gear connected to the engine, a startermotor, means for operatively connecting said gear and said starter motor, said means includmg a motor-driven P1111011 and provi- SlOIlS whereby engagement of sa1d gear and pinion will be completed by operation of said,

12. An engine starting-device, comprising a gear connected to the engine, a starter motor, means for operatively connecting said gear and said starter motor, said. means including a motor-driven pinion and provisions whereby engagement of said gear .and pinion will be completed by operation of said starter-motor after partial engagement of said gear and pinion has been effected and whereby said gear and pinion will be demeshed automatically when the engine becomes self-owv erative, an operating member, an intermediate motion-transmitting member, a yieldable connection between said two members, and a releasable connection between saidfinter mediate member and said pinion. i

13. An engine starting device, comprising a gear connected to the engine, a starter motor means for operatively connecting said gear and starter motor, said means including a motor driven pinion and provisions whereby enga 'ement of said gear and pinion will be completed by the operation of the starter motor after partial engagement of said gear and pinion has been effected and whereby said gear and pinion will be demeshed automatically when the engine becomes self-operative, an operating member, an intermediate member movable axially of said pinion, said intermediate member being connected to said" operating member to be' moved thereby and 'havin a push connection with said pinion where y said intermediate member can be 0perated to push said pinion into partial engagement with said gear and can remain axially stationary when said pinion-moves into complete engagement with said gear and releasable means operative when said pinion is out of mesh with said gear for tending to prevent movement of said pinion toward said gear and which last mentioned means includes a spring finger engageable in an annular groove associated with said pinion.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 3rd day of May, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twent seven.

WILL AM GARLETON' STARKEY. 

